The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) is Australia's national transport safety investigator. The ATSB's function is to improve safety and public confidence in the aviation, marine and rail modes of transport. The ATSB is Australia's prime agency for the independent investigation of civil aviation, rail and maritime accidents, incidents and safety deficiencies.

Summary

Summary

An aircraft maintenance engineer, who assisted the gliding group with maintenance aspects, was making a video movie of the glider operations. He was seen to be standing to the right-hand side, and well clear of the strip, near to the point where takeoffs were commenced. During the circuit by the particular glider, he moved to the edge of the strip to film the approach and landing. The colour of his clothing blended in with the high clumps of grass and general colour of the terrain, and the pilot did not detect his presence. When looking through the viewfinder of the camera, the photographer would have been led to believe that the glider was well clear of him. While panning the camera to film the landing run, he was struck on the neck by the wing of the passing aircraft.